Michigan UCR authorization advances; laws give nod to HOV lanes

| Friday, December 12, 2008

Multiple measures of interest to truckers in Michigan have been signed into law or are nearing passage in the statehouse. They address the Unified Carrier Registration program and high-occupancy vehicle lanes in the state.

The House Transportation Committee voted to advance a bill to the House floor that would authorize the state to implement and administer the Unified Carrier Registration Act. It is a federal act that replaced the Single State Registration System.

UCR includes a fee structure that switches from the old per-truck basis to a per-carrier basis that is the same for all member states. Truckers will no longer have to pick and choose states, as they do with the SSRS. One fee will cover all states.

Sponsored by Sen. Jud Gilbert, R-Algonac, the measure – SB1451 – received unanimous consent in the Senate this summer.

According to a fiscal impact statement on the bill, failure to adopt the new fee structure could cost the state its share of interstate motor carrier fees, which is about $7.5 million annually.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm has signed a legislative package authorizing Michigan to have high-occupancy vehicle, or HOV, lanes. The new policy took effect immediately.

One HOV lane already exists as a pilot project along a five-mile stretch of Michigan Avenue in Detroit near the Ambassador Bridge. However, state law makes no provision for HOV lanes, so law enforcement cannot ticket violators.

The trial run will occur while Michigan Avenue serves as an alternate route during the Ambassador Bridge Gateway Project, which is rebuilding Interstates 75 and 96 and their connections to the border crossing with Canada.

Although there are no specific plans for more HOV lanes, transportation officials plan to look at whether it would make sense to add them during highway improvement projects, The Associated Press reported.

Opponents say that HOV lanes are underused and take valuable road space away from drivers who cannot carpool. Others argue that the public has already paid for the roads.

Supporters say that car poolers and bus riders also pay taxes. In addition, use of the lanes cuts down on pollution.

To view other legislative activities of interest for Michigan in 2008, click here.